Simple, maybe Stupid ?

Ok, I posted yesterday about my new Jimmy, and someone said that I needed to post more info. Its an 84 GMC Jimmy 4x4 2.8l, origianally had a v6. It needs a new motor. A friend said that a motor from any gmc from about the same time will work, and offered a v6 engine from an 84 Chevy s10. The only difference is the engine being offered was not from a 4wheel drive truck. Does that matter or does the new engine have to be from a 4x4 jimmy?

Agreed. A K5 definitely has more room and you can buy parts for a 350 almost anywhere. My brother uses his S-10 to pull a utility trailer a couple times a week and the motor sounds like it's going to blow any second. 2.8 is definitely not a wise choice.

2.8 and 4.3 are from the S10 Blazers. To go from the 2.8 to the 4.3 isn't that easy because they have different bellhousing bolt patterns. The 4.3 is the same as a SB Chevy. In fact its a 350 with two cylinders missing. All internals are the same as the 350 Chevy. 2.8 is different so its not a easy swap. The 4.3 didn't come out until 88 like previously mentioned. Any 2.8 even out of a Camaro or Firebird will work. Even the slightly newer 3.1 is a bolt in seeing how its just a 2.8 bored out. Just don't get one out of a front wheel drive car as those are different. I believe the front wheel drive cars use different heads so its not a bolt in swap

I am assuming you are talking about an S series Jimmy (S15). Yes, the Chevy 2x4 2.8, is the same as your GMC 4x4 2.8. But from what I have heard a 3.4 V6 that came in numerous 90's Camaro's and other Chevy's, is a direct bolt in, and has much more horsepower than the 2.8, you may be better off to find one of those for your swap.
Go to this site and ask your question http://bbs.off-road.com/wwwthreads//postlist.pl?Cat=&Board=offroadchevysmall

Not many things are a direct bolt in. These motors will bolt up to most trannys 700's, 350's etc. The 3.1L used in front wheel drives is a 2.8 block with a little longer stroke, distributorless ignition and different heads. There are install kits where you can throw in a 350, 305, or 400. if that suits your fancy. The 3.4 may work but not as common. The V8 kits have custom headers b/c there isn't much room under the hood of a S-10. But where there's a will there is a way. I'd go with the 4.3 b/c they came in s-10's have good torque, readily available at salvage yards and probably easy emission wise too.

The 4.3 aint all it's cracked up to be. I had one in my $10 and that thing gave me problems from day one. low oil presure, awful oil leaks that even with new seals wouldn't seal, it ate head gaskets for lunch, constantly fouled spark plugs. After I had it rebuilt it was better for almost 9 months then it went back to normalcruddy operations so I unloaded it on some unsespecting idiot for a grand.
Dan

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